After returning from a wedding reception, a couple staying in an isolated vacation house receive a knock on the door in the mid-hours of the night. What ensues is a violent invasion by three strangers, their faces hidden behind masks. The couple find themselves in a violent struggle, in which they go beyond what either of them thought capable in order to survive.Written by
Anonymous
Arguably based on the 1981 Keddie Resort murders in northern California, although this has not been substantiated by anyone connected with the movie, and the writer claiming it is based on a childhood experience. See more »
Goofs
Kristen goes to the shed to call for help on the short wave radio. She crouches under the table, placing the handset upright on the floor. In the next 2 shots, the handset is seen lying down. In the shot after that, just before she picks it up, the handset is upright. See more »
Quotes
[first lines]
Narrator:
What you are about to see is inspired by true events. According to the FBI, there are an estimated 1.4 million violent crimes in America each year. On the night of February 11, 2005, Kristen McKay and James Hoyt left a friend's wedding reception and returned to the Hoyt family's summer home. The brutal events that took place there are still not entirely known.
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Alternate Versions
The unrated version is over two minutes longer than the theatrical version which includes one additional scene of Kristen, after being stabbed and left for dead, is crawling on the floor of the house to reach Mike's ringing cell phone, only to have it ring off before she can answer it. Then the Man in the Mask appears again, takes the phone away from her, and walks out the front door with it, leaving Kristen dying on the floor. See more »
THE STRANGERS Is a brilliant shock-fest of slasher horror filled with chills, frights and delights all played out in what I consider an instant horror classic. Bryan Bertino's film about a young couple stalked by three complete strangers brings back the conventional film tactics from classics like "Halloween" and "Friday the 13th," but with a modern 21st century twist of electronic horror. It's often reminiscent of last years semi-creepy film "Vacancy" with a bit of a "Funny Games" plot to it. It's a film built for it's day and age with an unexpected and somewhat dull ending. As with the trailer, The Strangers brings to life the chills with the dwelling of the unknown and what lies in the dark. It does for vacation homes with what 'Psycho' did for showers. Bertino built a smart yet very basic premise with witty action elements which will definitely drive a shriek of fright from right below your gut. Though flawed in many ways such as dialogue, predictability and character developments, you'll certainly find this picture worth a glance. "The Strangers" will indefinitely become one of those pictures that lends a helping hand to the reformation of the slasher genre and inspire numerous knock-offs to follow. Basically, look out for more slasher flicks to hit the screen in the next two years. The entire film plays like a psychosexual tension piece filled with somewhat frightening elements and like the original slasher flicks of the 1970's and 1980's, the lack of motive for murder. It is great to finally see a fright flick that strays away from the post 2000 craze of exploitation inspired porn-gore flicks like "Saw" and "Hostel'" and even the much horrifying in itself remake of "Halloween," and brings back the rules of what frightens the inner-psyche mind, THE UNKNOWN! Eric Javier Mejia The Review
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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN....
THE STRANGERS Is a brilliant shock-fest of slasher horror filled with chills, frights and delights all played out in what I consider an instant horror classic. Bryan Bertino's film about a young couple stalked by three complete strangers brings back the conventional film tactics from classics like "Halloween" and "Friday the 13th," but with a modern 21st century twist of electronic horror. It's often reminiscent of last years semi-creepy film "Vacancy" with a bit of a "Funny Games" plot to it. It's a film built for it's day and age with an unexpected and somewhat dull ending. As with the trailer, The Strangers brings to life the chills with the dwelling of the unknown and what lies in the dark. It does for vacation homes with what 'Psycho' did for showers. Bertino built a smart yet very basic premise with witty action elements which will definitely drive a shriek of fright from right below your gut. Though flawed in many ways such as dialogue, predictability and character developments, you'll certainly find this picture worth a glance. "The Strangers" will indefinitely become one of those pictures that lends a helping hand to the reformation of the slasher genre and inspire numerous knock-offs to follow. Basically, look out for more slasher flicks to hit the screen in the next two years. The entire film plays like a psychosexual tension piece filled with somewhat frightening elements and like the original slasher flicks of the 1970's and 1980's, the lack of motive for murder. It is great to finally see a fright flick that strays away from the post 2000 craze of exploitation inspired porn-gore flicks like "Saw" and "Hostel'" and even the much horrifying in itself remake of "Halloween," and brings back the rules of what frightens the inner-psyche mind, THE UNKNOWN! Eric Javier Mejia The Review